Skin-Deep Attraction

By Harper Jewel

Can a Plumarian reach deep inside himself to find a way to make the first move toward peace with the hostile Jadelings?

Nayix Lexion, Prince of Plumaria, finds himself dragged back to reality by his father and little sister after enduring an unexpected heartbreak and wallowing in isolation.

At the prospect of a possible rescue and saving Plumaria’s failing environment, he reluctantly agrees to journey to Earth. When several snafus get in his way, together with having his conscience tugged in two different directions, will he find the strength needed to survive?

Will a Jadeling find a way to steer through the long-standing hatred for the Plumarians infused in him by his father?

Veldroi Ruvax, son of the Jadeling Elite Leader, gets thrown into his first mission to Earth. Doing his best to overcome his lack of education and training, he’s unprepared for the glitches hurled at him from all sides.

Faced with memory loss and haunting images, he can’t determine whether truth or fiction, will he be able to escape the foreboding dread he might at any moment become something evil? Or can he believe the words of his beguiling rescuer?

Can a Plumarian and a Jadeling find a way past their differences and see what lies beneath their “skins?” Will they be able to work together to bring a murderer to justice and establish peace between their races while navigating their way through their skin-deep attraction?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harper Jewel
• Release date: Nov 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005272111

Harper Jewel

Harper Jewel, a loyal LGBTQ+ ally and proud Mama Bear to her twenty-four-year-old daughter, lives in northeast New Jersey with her loving husband. She has four cats, enjoys writing, reading, playing time-management games on her tablet, and watching Hulu or Netflix.With her outgoing personality and vivid imagination, she can create believable and memorable plots and characters.Although she began writing male/female Romance/erotica, she has found her niche in Gay Romance. She enjoys every one of her male characters when they speak to her with loud voices while proving love is love. She is proud to have the honor of being the first M/M author accepted at the now-closed Lush Publishing.Visit www.harperjewel.com to find out more.

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SKIN-DEEP ATTRACTION

HARPER JEWEL

Copyright © April 2020 by Harper Jewel

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cover art © 2020 Harper Jewel

Slippery Fingers Logo © 2015 Harper Jewel

Cover Photo Rights Licensed © 2020 Deposit Photos

Interior Photo Rights Licensed © 2020 Deposit Photos

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Author’s Note

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

About Harper

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AUTHOR’S NOTE

Dear Reader,

Time in the Aldebaran Galaxy differs from time on Earth. So you can follow along, here is a guide:

One cycle = 2 Earth years

½ cycle = 1 Earth year

¼ cycle = 6 Earth months

One tic = One Earth minute

Nanotic = one Earth second

One sunrise/moon = 2 Earth days

CHAPTER ONE

Deep in the Aldebaran Galaxy

Nayix, I would appreciate it if you’d come to my office. It’s important."

The dual multi-colored suns had just risen over the horizon on the tiny planet Zarine—a hospitable world in a previous time that lost three-quarters of its living space after an asteroid hit. Antos Lexion, the Supreme Monarch of Plumaria—a title given to him when his father passed to his Eternal Kingdom—didn’t relish the upcoming talk he needed to have with his son. The slight breeze his pacing created caused the feathers covering his humanoid body to flutter from light blue to dark blue. He had made a tough decision. One he knew his son would meet with plenty of protests. However, no complaint—big or small—would be enough to sway him from his position. The entire Plumarian race, now living under the expansive dome they’d created to protect them from Zarine’s harsh, post-asteroid tundra and provide them with a livable atmosphere, was at considerable risk that could spell their doom. Waiting for his son’s arrival, he sat behind his Zarinian crystal desk in the center of the room.

A gentle knock on the closed door roused him from his introspection. Come in. With a soft swish, the entrance slid open.

Nayix Lexion, Prince of Plumaria and Antos’s son, poked his head through the open portal and responded to his sire’s request. You asked for me, Father?

Antos nodded. I did, Nix. It’s urgent. Otherwise, I would not have disturbed you. Why don’t you take a seat? We haven’t spoken in quite a while.

Nix sighed and took a seat on the couch situated against the far wall of the office. His body in motion, the silver plumes covering his humanoid body, fluttered in the draft. What is it you wish to speak about?

Rising from his chair once more, Antos strode across the dark floor made of Ting Tree planks and took a seat beside his son. I can tell by the sadness etched on your face you still grieve for your Kindred Consort, Xahon. It’s been a quarter cycle since his unfortunate passing to the Eternal Kingdom. It’s time to stop your mourning. We need more Grass Pink Orchids, or our ecosystem sustained by the Influx 6000 will no longer function, and everyone living under our protective bubble will suffer a horrid death.

When Nix’s silver eyes glowed, and his feathers glimmered, Antos could feel his son’s anger. There are plenty of other Plumarians who can go to Earth and save our race. Don’t you dare pin our fate on me!

Son… Antos tried to contain his disappointment, but his light blue plumage turned a dark blue, giving away his genuine feelings. You are the most qualified to find the orchids needed to support the Influx 6000. If not for your mother and her extensive knowledge of Earth’s plant life, along with her degree in Botany, we had no chance of discovering the alternative fuel source of Earth’s bright pink flower. He glanced at his Kindred Consort’s vidpic on his desk and blew it a kiss.

Instead of concentrating on the continued production of our life-sustaining necessity, we’ve had to work around our destroyed greenhouses and poisoned soil caused by those damn Jadelings when they first attacked us three cycles ago. You know Zarine’s dirt lacks the proper nutrients to grow the orchids. By targeting the Olivine in the Earth’s soil we had collected, the bastards ruined our ability to grow the precious power source. May their scaled bodies disintegrate into the afterworld. They don’t deserve an Eternal Kingdom. He pointed toward Zarine’s tiny sister planet Xylos and cursed out loud while shaking his fist.

I’m aware of the damage those bastards did. And I’ll never forget the day of their first strike. It occurred the day after Xahon and I met in the Joining Room, ruining our chance of a proper MoonJourney. But, I still don’t understand why you’re asking me to travel to Earth. You realize the planet holds only horrid memories for me, don’t you? Nayix argued.

Antos knew his son referred to the accident resulting in the death of his Kindred Consort. You’ve traveled to Earth before. You are more familiar with the way humans think and conduct themselves.

What if I say no? Will you put on your Monarch’s crown and command me to take this journey? Nix pointed to Antos’s crown, where it sat on the glass desktop.

If I have no other choice, yes. I can’t imagine what Xahon would say if he knew how long you’ve allowed yourself to become a hermit and wallow in your heartbreak. I’m sure he didn’t want you to do this.

Don’t you fucking challenge my feelings or my love for Xahon! Nayix’s voice rose with each word he spoke.

A soft gasp came from behind one of the few remaining non-poisoned potted Frilly Leaf plants in the corner of Antos’s office, and two heads swiveled at once.

Razitik Lexion, what do you think you’re doing?

I… I’m sorry, Papa.

Antos went to his daughter, only five cycles old to Nix’s fifteen cycles, and lifted her into his arms. Her pink feathers rippled, and matching pink tears welled, threatening to fall down her face. Razi, you know my office is off-limits.

Razi sniffled. I know, but I wanted to see Nix, and I knew you’d asked for him.

So, you were eavesdropping? Antos knew his daughter missed her brother.

Razitik nodded.

Come here, my nosey little sister.

Antos handed Razi to his son.

If you wanted to see me, you could have come to my home.

You’ve been in there so long, Nix, and you kept the windows black. I thought if I disturbed you, you’d get mad.

THE TRUTH OF HIS sister’s words hit Nayix hard. Razi was right. He’d been lamenting Xahon’s death for a long time, resulting in his neglect of his family. He kissed her cheek. I am very sorry, little one. I never considered how my absence might affect you.

It’s okay, Nix. I miss Xahon too. He always treated me like a princess.

"You are a princess, my sweet."

And you are a prince. Isn’t that why Papa asked for your help?

Guilt over his stubborn response to his father’s request flooded Nix, and with a sheepish expression, he faced the Plumarian Supreme Monarch. I apologize, Father.

All of a sudden, the Operations Commander interrupted with a message on the interphone sitting next to Eve’s vidpic on the desk. Your Highness, I hate to intrude, but we’ve just received a startling signal. I can send the report to your datapad if you wish.

Please do, Baylore.

Nix peered at him when Antos reached for his datapad. What is it, Father?

It seems we’ve received a weak signal from what appears to be Talna.

Aunt Artika’s ship? Razi’s plumes turned dark pink when she blurted her question.

Antos put a feathered hand up. Please, Razitik, no interruptions.

Razi lowered her head and folded her hands in front of her, and Nayix patted her back.

Filled with astonishment, Nix returned his attention to his father and shook his head. The Talna? After two-and-a-half cycles? No wonder the signal’s weak. After five Earth years, Talna’s power cells could only run on reserved strength, and even then, it would be close to, if not, empty. Damn, I wish Xahon were here. I know how thrilled he’d be to know I might locate his sister’s ship and Artika with it.

But we don’t know how old the signal is or how many cycles ago she sent it. Remember, the solar flare Earth’s sun experienced about the same time could have interfered.

Maybe. Countless thoughts and emotions swirled through Nix’s head. If there’s any chance the signal came from Talna and Arti, I have to be the one to investigate it. Wasn’t Arti on a mission to collect more orchids when she disappeared?

Antos gave him a curt nod. "She was. Talna took her to a place called Ochopee,